| Chipped, peeling, flaky fingernails are never in | | | | patients also report chipping and peeling nails. If |
| style. If you’re reading this, you’ve | | | | you’ve been given a prescription ointment or |
| probably tried a lot of different products and | | | | cream for what’s on your skin, try rubbing it |
| strategies to stop the problem from happening. | | | | on your nails, too. |
| Understanding how your nails got that way in the | | | | Chemical Exposure |
| first place could help you come up with a better | | | | Lots of people don’t take proper precautions |
| strategy. | | | | when cleaning the house or conducting pest |
| Here are eight of the top causes of peeling | | | | control. For the sake of your lungs, ventilate the |
| fingernails. | | | | room. For the sake of your nails, wear gloves. |
| Climate Changes | | | | Chemicals and solvents present in many cleaning |
| No, we’re not talking about carbon emissions. | | | | products can dry out or damage your fingernails, |
| Your nails are not suffering from global warming | | | | leading to peeling. |
| the way the polar bears are. It’s just that | | | | Immersion in Water |
| sudden changes in the weather, or extreme | | | | Water swells and separates the layers of the nail |
| weather conditions, might be affecting your nails. | | | | plate. If you keep re-wetting the nails, they never |
| Usually the culprit is cold, dry weather that | | | | dry properly, leading to flaking and peels. If |
| dehydrates the nail plate, causing layers to | | | | you’re in a job where you soak your hands |
| separate and flake off. To solve it, try rubbing in | | | | or have to wash them regularly, you’re going |
| a rich lotion or moisturizer every morning and | | | | to have nail problems unless you take evasive |
| evening—and wear gloves! | | | | action. Wear gloves wherever possible, and |
| Dietary Issues | | | | moisturize at least twice a day, if not more. |
| Many people will say that if your nails are peeling, | | | | Fitness swimmers who spend more than an hour |
| it’s a lack of protein that’s the cause. | | | | in the pool should rub olive oil or petroleum jelly |
| This is really unlikely in North America or Western | | | | into their nails before starting their laps. |
| Europe, even if you’re a hard-core vegan. | | | | Post-Fake Nail Trauma |
| Usually, if diet’s to blame for your fingernail | | | | Really well-done acrylic nails look great, but it’s |
| problems, it’s a lack of biotin, sulfur, or | | | | pretty much inevitable that your nails will be paper |
| B-vitamins (which is a concern for vegans). A | | | | thin and damaged once you have the fakes taken |
| good supplement, along with a few extra servings | | | | off. You’ll have to be patient, and stimulate |
| of raw vegetables and fruit, should alleviate the | | | | new growth with diet, moisturizers, and nail |
| chipping. | | | | strengtheners. But don’t just pick any nail |
| Prescription Medications | | | | strengthener… |
| Some medicines have a drying effect on the skin | | | | The Wrong Kind of Nail Treatments |
| and nails. If your peeling nails became an issue | | | | Nail strengtheners and peeling nail solutions contain |
| after you started taking a certain drug, you | | | | a lot of chemicals. Most of them are designed to |
| should head to the manufacturer’s website to | | | | make your nails bond back together to prevent |
| double-check side effects. We’d never | | | | breaking and peeling. Some of them may actually |
| recommend quitting any physician-prescribed drug | | | | be making the problem worse. Formaldehyde, an |
| just for the sake of your fingernails. Instead, try | | | | ingredient in several popular strengtheners, can |
| improving your diet, as in step 2, and moisturizing, | | | | cause drying and irritation of the skin and |
| as in step 1. If that doesn’t work, pick a good | | | | nails—not to mention being a suspected cause |
| nail strengthener (see step 8). | | | | of breast cancer. Switch to a nail care product |
| Psoriasis, Yeast Infections, or Other Skin | | | | that’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, and |
| Conditions | | | | dibutyl pthalate, such as Nail Aid’s Peeling Nail |
| If you’re suffering from a skin condition such | | | | Intense Repair Gel. Your entire body, not just |
| as psoriasis or a yeast infection, there could be | | | | your nails, will thank you. |
| knock-on effects for your nails. Many psoriasis | | | | |